Nine super fundraisers challenged to raise £600 each in six months have smashed their initial target.

Gemma Sands, of charity Remembering Rebecca, came up with the idea to run a competition in which six competitors would each raise at least £600 in six months.

But nine people signed up - and their efforts have already more than surpassed all expectations by bringing in almost £13,000 between them, only halfway through the competition.

And while all the volunteers are in it to help a charity close to their hearts, there’s also a good incentive - the prize for bringing in the most cash at the end of the six months is a £2,000 holiday of their choice.

Gemma, of Ingleby Barwick, who set up the charity in memory of daughter Rebecca, who died aged just 21 months in August 2010 from a rare brain condition said: “Initially, I thought I would ask for six volunteers.

Nicola became aware of Remembering Rebecca when the charity helped her own family raise funds for a specialist helmet for her son Toby, now eight months old.

Nicola said: “Toby and I had quite a traumatic birth. Toby was born via forceps and ventouse, which caused him to have a serious hematoma.

“Thankfully he fought it off in a few days, without any intervention, and his brain scan came back with no problems.”

The charity raised £2,000 for a helmet for Toby Hylton, who's mum took part in a fundraising competition. Toby is pictured with his Godmother, Jen Duncan

However, when Toby was four months old, his parents realised he still had a problem with his head, and he was diagnosed with flat head syndrome.

Remembering Rebecca then stepped in to help the family raise the £2,000 needed for the helmet.

Nicola, a special needs teacher at Priory Woods School and Arts College, said she wanted to help raise funds for the charity, partly because of her own experience, but also through understanding how important it is to others.

She added: “I see every day how important the equipment and special memories are for these children.”

Natasha Day at the American 'frat' party she organised in March, which raised £1061

Fellow fundraiser, 29-year-old Natasha Day, said: “Since having my little boy, Oscar, in August 2014 it made me realise how lucky I was to have a healthy, happy baby and wanted to help make a difference to families suffering from life-threatening or reducing illnesses.”

Another of those taking part, Claire, has a daughter with the same condition as Rebecca.

The name of the leading fundraiser is being kept a secret by Gemma for now.

The winner will be announced, and the final total revealed, at an event at the end of July.

Gemma added: “It’s absolutely brilliant. They are very competitive.

“I can’t believe how much they’ve raised, and they all want to do it for Remembering Rebecca.”

All the fundraisers wanted to thank everyone who’s contributed to their events.